APO identifier for library catalogues

APO is working towards standardising its metadata putting an APO ‘stamp’ – a unique identifier on each record that credits APO with doing the cataloguing.

APO is working towards standardising its metadata. No, this doesn’t mean we are tapping phones or retaining anyone’s browsing history (search for ‘data retention’ in APO for this policy topic if it is of interest. And then clear your history). By metadata we mean the way that we catalogue the reports, articles and so on in our database. And part of standardisation includes putting an APO ‘stamp’– a unique identifier on each record that credits APO with doing the cataloguing. This is important when APO records are shared beyond the website, for example with other databases or library systems.

To ensure APO is uniquely identified in other database contexts, we have been allocated a unique code by the Library of Congress, Network Development & MARC Standards Office. You can now find APO in the MARC Code List for Organizations. APO needs to be in this list so that when our metadata is shared in library systems, the catalogue indicates that the record was created by us.

And what is the code? AU-HaAPO (normalized: auhaapo). But only a metadata nerd would ask this. 🤓